Step Up: It’s time for Derek Stepan to step up in Ryan Callahan’s absence.

A closer look at the Rangers’ scoring issues is enough to make one jump off the Chase Bridges. A fundamental flaw with the roster is the lack of finish. Outside of Rick Nash, they don’t possess one other 30-goal scorer. Nash missed 17 games due to a concussion. Including last night’s dandy, he has six goals in 15 games. That total would be a lot higher if he stayed healthy. Brad Richards leads the team with nine. For a player many wanted to amnesty, that’s fine. As predicted, he’s bounced back leading the club in scoring with 24 points.

The problem is Richards can’t be the leading goal scorer 32 games in. With Ryan Callahan suffering a second-degree knee sprain, he’ll be out four to six weeks. Even though the Rangers captain was struggling offensively, his seven goals are tied with rookie Chris Kreider for second. That includes a team best four power play goals. Given how much he leads in every situation, it’s up to teammates to step up in his absence. One player who can perform better is Derek Stepan. After re-signing at the end of camp, he’s been inconsistent so far. While his 15 assists are tied with Richards for the team lead and his 20 points are tied with Mats Zuccarello for second best, he hasn’t played well. Five goals in 32 games isn’t enough production for a player who netted 18 over 48 last season.

It’s not so much that he’s expected to score goals. For better or worse, Stepan’s supposed to be their number one center. Occasionally, that means finishing around the net. He’s scored five times on 76 shots. It doesn’t take a brain surgeon to translate a low shooting percentage (6.6). Compared with ’12-13, it’s not in the ballpark. Last year, he scored 18 on 108 achieving a career high 16.7 percent. Certainly, he benefitted from playing with Nash. They finished 1-2 in goal scoring. Nash had 21. Stepan beat out Nash in team scoring with 44 points. Nash had 42.

Aside from a lower shooting percentage which is on pace for the worst of his career, Stepan is struggling mightily on face-offs. Despite taking the most draws, he’s 248 and 308 (44.6 percent). Unfortunately, this has been a sore spot since he entered the league in ’10-11. Even last year, Stepan won 45.9 percent. Astonishingly, that was a career high. During his four-year career, he’s averaged 43.6. That’s not a high enough percentage. Especially playing for a coach who demands a higher offensive tempo. In order to have success, the team must have puck possession. Only one center on the roster wins consistently. Brian Boyle is at 55.1 percent (193 and 157). Most are in the defensive zone.

Not being able to win face-offs hurts your offense. Especially if you lose key draws that start in the offensive zone. How many times have we seen this team start a power play by losing the draw and having the puck cleared? It allows opponents to kill the first 25-30 seconds. No wonder the power play isn’t consistent. Sure. It’s improved under current assistant Scott Arniel ranking 13th at 19.0 percent. Outside of Richards who’s just over 50.0 percent, how much better could it be if Stepan won more consistently in the faceoff circle? Derick Brassard also loses over half. As a team, the Rangers are tied with the Ducks for 18th in face-offs (48.9 percent). Unlike Anaheim, they don’t possess enough skill to get by.

It’s understood that Stepan is only in his fourth year. The 23-year old former ’08 second round pick has been very successful. In 244 career games, he has 61 goals and 99 assists totaling 160 points. Of the entire 2008 Draft class, that ranks fifth best- trailing Steven Stamkos (409), Drew Doughty (199), Erik Karlsson (192) and Jordan Eberle (183). Unlike the top four, he wasn’t a first round pick and doesn’t possess the same talent. The former University Of Wisconsin product does it with intelligence and work ethic. Similar to Chris Drury. Sometimes, he overthinks. There have been a number of odd man situations where he’s passed up wide open shots. He’s a very unselfish player who thinks pass first. It’s not his natural instinct to shoot. But on an offensively challenged team, they need more goal production.

This hasn’t been a good stretch. Entering tomorrow night’s game against the Blue Jackets, the Blueshirts are 3-5-1 in their last nine. That followed consecutive road wins at Dallas and Nashville. In fact, they took three of five on a road trip that concluded November. Four of their five games this month have come at home. They’ve lost all of them (0-3-1) outscored 16-7. That includes a shootout loss to the Devils. In each defeat, Stepan doesn’t have a single point and is minus-four. Since a 2-0 win at Nashville on 11/20, he is without a goal over the last nine. Prior to that, he went eight straight without one. That followed his second career hat trick on 11/2 and a goal versus Pittsburgh on 11/6.

Ironically, that coincided with his best stretch. Between 10/29 and 11/16, Stepan tallied nine points (4-5-9) in nine games. The Rangers won all six in which he tallied a point. For the season, they are 12-3-0 when Stepan registers a point. Dating back to Oct. 29 when they defeated the Islanders 3-2, they are a perfect 12-0-0 since. Strange coincidence? I don’t think so. This team plays better when Stepan is going well. It’s time for him to Step Up.